Windshield wiper connector

Novel connectors for coupling wiper blades with arms are described, including those that. A wiper blade connector may include first and second side walls and a bridge defining an upper channel, as well as a passage for receiving a rivet or pin. The connector may also include a reinforcement portion which may be an extension of the side walls, include a portion overhanging into the upper channel, an outward extension projecting in a direction away from the upper channel, or resilient tabs on the inside of the channel. The connector may also include a support element, such as a truss member, which extends the upper channel. A lateral brace may also be provided between side walls.

Skip to: Description  ·  Claims  ·  References Cited  · Patent History  ·  Patent History
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/794,687, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates in general to windshield wipers, and more particularly, to an improved connector for a windshield wiper that allows the windshield wiper to be coupled with multiple types of windshield wiper arm configurations. The invention is also directed to windshield wipers incorporating these novel connectors.

BACKGROUND

There are a variety of wiper arms on which wiper blades are provided as original equipment. These various wiper arms have hooks, pins, or other configurations which may connect to the wiper blade with or without connectors. These various configurations have created a problem in the replacement market because wiper blade providers are required to have multiple wiper blade configurations to accommodate all of the existing wiper arms. It is therefore advantageous to have attachment structures that can accommodate a host of arms to reduce the complexity and cost associated with plurality of wiper blade arm configuration.

The need to a couple replacement windshield wiper blades with various styles of arms has been addressed to some degree. For example, windshield wiper blades have been designed to work with various hook-type wiper arms having different sizes. Connectors may also be configured to receive either a pin-type arm, a hook-type arm and a variety of other arms, such as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,640,380, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Side-saddled or offset connectors have also been developed for connecting wiper blades with alternative types of wiper arms, as described for instance in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/558,624, filed Jul. 26, 2012, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. An adapter may also be used to connect the arm to a windshield wiper. As that term is used herein, an adapter is a separate structure that works together with the connector to allow the windshield wiper to connect to a type of wiper arm. An example adapter is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2002/0192017, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, wherein an adapter is used to allow a large hook to connect to a wiper blade having a connector that accommodates only small hook arms.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A connector for coupling a wiper blade with a wiper arm may include first and second side walls spaced at a distance from each other and connected by a bridge, with the first and second side walls and the bridge defining an upper channel, a rivet passage formed into the first and second sidewalls, with the rivet passage dimensioned to accept and hold a rivet of a wiper blade in order to connect the wiper blade with the connector, and a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel. The connector may also include a rail interconnecting said first and second side walls and vertically spaced from said bridge to define a tail space between said bridge and said rail, and the rail may have a forward most free end positioned rearward of said pin passage and said rivet passage to define a rail-free hook insertion space below said bridge, forward of said pin passage, and between said side walls.

A wiper blade may include a wiper strip, a support structure a support structure, with the support structure distributing force from a wiper arm to the wiper strip, and a connection device disposed on the support structure, and a connector for coupling the connection device of the wiper blade with a wiper arm. The connector may be any embodiment of a connector in accordance with the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The following description and the annexed drawings set forth certain illustrative aspects of the invention. These aspects are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed and the present invention is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a wiper blade coupled with a wiper arm with a connector, in accordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1 attached to the wiper blade with the wiper arm removed or not shown.

FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1 attached to the wiper arm.

FIG. 4 is a bottom perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1 attached to the wiper arm.

FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7 is a first side view of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a second side view of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 9 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 13 is a top perspective view of an additional embodiment of a connector attached to the wiper arm, in accordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 14 is a bottom perspective view of the connector of FIG. 13 attached to the wiper arm.

FIG. 15 is a top perspective view of the connector of FIG. 13.

FIG. 16 is a bottom perspective view of the connector of FIG. 13.

FIG. 17 is a first side view of the connector of FIG. 13.

FIG. 18 is a second side view of the connector of FIG. 13.

FIG. 19 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 13.

FIG. 20 is a rear view of the connector of FIG. 13.

FIG. 21 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 13.

FIG. 22 is a bottom view of the connector of FIG. 13.

FIG. 23 is a top perspective view of an additional embodiment of a connector attached to an alternative wiper arm, in accordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 24 is a bottom perspective view of the connector of FIG. 23 attached to the alternative wiper arm.

FIG. 25 is a top perspective view of the connector of FIG. 23.

FIG. 26 is a bottom perspective view of the connector of FIG. 23.

FIG. 27 is a first side view of the connector of FIG. 23.

FIG. 28 is a second side view of the connector of FIG. 23.

FIG. 29 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 23.

FIG. 30 is a rear view of the connector of FIG. 23.

FIG. 31 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 23.

FIG. 32 is a bottom view of the connector of FIG. 23.

FIG. 33 is a top perspective view of an additional embodiment of a connector attached to an alternative wiper arm, in accordance with the disclosure.

FIG. 34 is a bottom perspective view of the connector of FIG. 33 attached to the alternative wiper arm.

FIG. 35 is a top perspective view of the connector of FIG. 33.

FIG. 36 is a bottom perspective view of the connector of FIG. 33.

FIG. 37 is a first side view of the connector of FIG. 33.

FIG. 38 is a second side view of the connector of FIG. 33.

FIG. 39 is a front view of the connector of FIG. 33.

FIG. 40 is a rear view of the connector of FIG. 33.

FIG. 41 is a top view of the connector of FIG. 33.

FIG. 42 is a bottom view of the connector of FIG. 33.

FIG. 43 is a cross-sectional side view of the connector of FIG. 1.

FIG. 44 is a cross-sectional side view of the connector of FIG. 13.

FIG. 45 is a cross-sectional side view of the connector of FIG. 23.

FIG. 46 is a cross-sectional side view of the connector of FIG. 33.

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description and the appended drawings describe and illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosure solely for the purpose of enabling one of ordinary skill in the relevant art to make and use the invention. As such, the detailed description and illustration of these embodiments are purely exemplary in nature and are in no way intended to limit the scope of the invention, or its protection, in any manner. It should also be understood that the drawings may not be to scale and in certain instances details may have been omitted, which are not necessary for an understanding of the present invention, such as conventional details of fabrication and assembly. These embodiments, which are also referred to herein as “examples,” are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the subject matter disclosed herein. It is to be understood that the embodiments may be combined or that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural, logical, and electrical variations may be made without departing from the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the subject matter disclosed herein is defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.

Throughout the disclosure, the terms “a” or “an” may refer to one or more than one. In this document, the term “or” is used to refer to a nonexclusive or, unless otherwise indicated. Furthermore, references to “one embodiment” are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. Moreover, unless explicitly stated to the contrary, embodiments “comprising,” “including,” or “having” an element or a plurality of elements having a particular property may include additional such elements not having that property.

A connector for coupling a wiper blade with a wiper arm is provided in accordance with the disclosure, the connector including first and second side walls spaced at a distance from each other and connected by a bridge, the first and second side walls and the bridge defining an upper channel; a rivet passage formed into the first and second sidewalls, the rivet passage dimensioned to accept and hold a rivet of a wiper blade in order to connect the wiper blade with the connector; and a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel. The reinforcement element may include an upward extension of at least one of the first and second walls thereby increasing the height of the upper channel. At least a portion of the reinforcement element may bend into the upper channel. The reinforcement element may include an outward extension which projects in a direction away from the upper channel. The reinforcement element may include an overhang portion which extends over the upper channel thereby covering at least a portion of the upper channel. The reinforcement element may be provided on both first and second side walls. The reinforcement element includes at least one resilient tab provided on the inner side of the reinforcement element within the upper channel.

In some embodiments, the connector further includes a support element extending from each of the first and second walls in order to support an extension of the bridge and upper channel. Furthermore, the support element may be an integral extension of the first and second side walls, or the support element may be a truss member. The connector may further include a lateral brace between the first and second side walls. The connector may further include a pin passage formed into the first and second side walls adjacent to the rivet passage, the pin passage dimensioned to accept and hold a pin of the wiper arm in order to connect the wiper arm with the connector. The connector may further include a clip including a resilient clip end extending into the pin passage in order to define at least a portion of the pin passage. If a clip is included, the clip may include an upper channel portion which at least partially defines the upper channel as substantially co-planar with the bridge. The connector may further include a lower channel formed between the first and second side walls below the upper channel, the lower channel dimensioned to receive the end of a hook of the wiper arm, the upper channel and lower channel thereby mutually dimensioned to accept and hold the hook of the wiper arm in order to connect the wiper arm with the connector.

An additional embodiment of a connector for connecting a wiper blade to a wiper arm is provided in accordance with the disclosure, said connector including first and second side walls spaced from one another; a bridge interconnecting said first and second side walls, said bridge and first and second side walls defining a pin passage and a rivet passage on an underside of the connector and further defining an upper channel on the upper side of the connector; a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel; and a rail interconnecting said first and second side walls and vertically spaced from said bridge to define a tail space between said bridge and said rail, said rail having a forward most free end positioned rearward of said pin passage and said rivet passage to define a rail-free hook insertion space below said bridge, forward of said pin passage, and between said side walls. The reinforcement element may include an upward extension of at least one of the first and second walls increasing the height of the upper channel. The reinforcement element may include an outward extension which projects in a direction away from the upper channel. The reinforcement element may include an overhang portion which extends over the upper channel thereby covering at least a portion of the upper channel.

With reference now to FIGS. 1-4, a connector 100 is illustrated for coupling a wiper blade 10 with a hook-type wiper arm 20. The wiper blade includes a base, a rivet or rod extending laterally across base, a cover for wiper blade 10, and a wiper strip for contacting the windshield of a vehicle. Adjacent from rivet is a first set of apertures and a second set of apertures having a different diameter size than the first set. Each set, is aligned to mutually receive a pin there through from a pin-type connector arm (not illustrated). By having different diameter sizes, the wiper blade may be advantageously coupled with one of two different kinds of pin-type wiper arms. A person skilled in the art should understand and recognize that only the hook-shaped end portion of wiper arm 20 is illustrated in the drawings, and that the opposing end of wiper arm 20 is connectable to the windshield of a vehicle and is operable to move wiper blade 10 across the windshield when the wiper blade 10 and wiper arm 20 are coupled. FIG. 2 shows wiper arm 20 removed, while FIGS. 3-4 illustrate wiper blade 10 removed.

Various styles of wiper arms 20 of varying dimensions and features are described, for example, in the '380 Patent, whose contents are incorporated by reference. The wiper arms 20 illustrated in FIGS. 1-4, as well as FIGS. 13-14 may be described as hook-type arms. Hook-type arms may have varying sizes and dimensions including, for example, 7 mm wide or 9 mm wide, and may include features such a slotted or un-slotted tail. The tail may also be referred to, herein, as an end portion. In addition to hook-type arms, the connector 100 may be utilized for coupling pin-type arms of at least two different diameter sized pins. Thus, connector 100 may be provided for coupling a variety of styles of wiper arms 20 with blades 10.

FIGS. 5-12 and 43 illustrate views of an embodiment of connector 100 in accordance with the present disclosure. Connector 100 includes substantially parallel first and second side walls 102, 104 spaced at a distance from each other, with a bridge or base 106 between. The sidewalls 102, 104 together with base 106 thereby define a channel 108 for receiving a portion of a hook-type arm 20. Channel 108 may be manufactured with varying sizes and dimensions in order to accommodate the size and dimension, particularly the width, of known or to-be developed hooks 20 used in wiper arms. An entry end 108A may be defined at one end of the elongate channel 108, and a curved end 108B may be defined at the opposing end of channel 108. Upper channel 108 is thus dimensioned to connect with a hook-type arm 20, with the curve in the hook conforming around the curved end 108B of channel 108.

A strong coupling between wiper blade 10 and wiper arm 20 is critical in order for the wiper blade 10 to function properly during use as a windshield wiper for a vehicle. As vehicle designs have changed over the years, so too have the windshield dimensions. Windshields having a greater surface area are increasingly common in modern vehicles. Accordingly, wiper blades 10 are becoming increasingly longer in order to accommodate these larger windshields being developed in the marketplace. For example, while a 28 inch or 32 inch long wiper blade is presently quite common, such a lengthy wiper blade would be exceptionally uncommon just a few years ago. Long wiper blades experience increased lateral forces, or torque, as the blade 10 runs across the windshield than a shorter counterpart blade would experience. Thus, the need to have a stronger coupling between the wiper blade 10 and the arm 20 is increasingly vital in order to resist the greater torque forces experienced by longer wiper blades 10. If the coupling between the wiper blade 10 and arm 20 is weak, such that lateral movement occurs in the direction of the torque forces experienced by the wiper 10, the resulting shaking may result in the wiper strip 60 leaving streaks across the windshield. This phenomena may be referred to as dithering or fishtailing.

In order to reduce the likelihood of streaking during use, and so as to better resist torque or lateral forces exerted against wiper blade 10 at the point of coupling between blade 10 and arm 20, connector 100 may feature sidewalls 102, 104 each having a reinforcement element 110, an inner side 112 of the raised portion 110 thereby defining a more deeply set channel 108 than with sidewalls 102, 104 alone. Reinforcement element 110 may be integrally formed with side walls 102, 104 or may be separately attached. Reinforcement element 110 may include raising at least portions of sidewalls 102, 104 In some embodiments, each side of the raised side wall portion 110 may be parallel or substantially parallel to the other side, while in other embodiments, such as the illustrate embodiment, the inner side 112 of the raised portion 110 bends or curves slightly inward towards channel 108 in order to snap-fittingly engage the wiper arm 20. The upper portions 110 may be resilient to accommodate a snap-fit of wiper arm 20. In addition to extending inwardly, some embodiments may feature an overhang or outward extrusion 114 of raised portion 110, which extends over or beyond the outermost surface of sidewalls 102, 104. Such an outwardly extending portion may reduce the space or gap between connector 100 and base 30. By reducing space between connector 100 and base 30, less of the base 30 is exposed to weather elements such as snow, sleet, mud, dirt, or other foreign debris which may corrode, wear, or otherwise damage connector 100, base 30, or any other portion of wiper blade 10 below connector 100. It is within the disclosure that the outward extrusion 114 may touch or nearly touch the base 30.

In order to further improve resistance to lateral or torque forces, and in order to provide for a stronger or sturdier coupling of arm 10 and blade 20, side walls 102, 104 may further include a support element 130. In the illustrated embodiment, support element 130 is an integral extension of the underside of side walls 102, 104, opposite the raised portion 110, however it is contemplated within the disclosure that support element 130 may be a separate attachment provided to support a more elongate channel 108. Attached support element 130 may be a truss member, for example, diagonally supporting the extension of channel 108, thereby providing more surface area along arm 20 connected with connector 100 in channel 108.

On an underside of connector 100, opposite of the upper side having channel 108, is a first passage or rivet channel 120 and a second passage or pin channel 122. Passages 120, 122 extend through first and second walls 102, 104 and are defined for fittably receiving and holding a rod, pin, or other elongate cylindrical member in a snap-fit. For instance, a rod or rivet provided on a connecting base of wiper blade 10 may be received within passage 120, while a pin from a pin-type wiper arm may be receivable within passage 122. Either first or second passage 120, 122 may include one or more clips 124 which further define the associated passage and may communicate with a rod or pin received in the passage in order to securely hold the rod or pin within the passage. In the illustrated embodiment, clip 124 includes an upper channel portion 126, a resilient clip end 128 defining one side of first passage 122, and passage divider 130 mutually defining the second side of the first passage 122, as well as a first side of the second passage 124. Upper channel portion 128 may be substantially aligned or co-planar with bridge 108, thereby at least partially defining upper channel 108. Clip end 128 extrudes downward from upper channel portion 128 and curves into passage 120 thereby defining one side of the passage. The other side of the passage may be defined by divider 130, which may also be defined as the portion of the side walls 102, 104 between passages 120, 122. Divider 130 functions as a fixed end to the upper channel portion 126 and clip end 128 of clip 124. Upon insertion of a rod into passage 120, clip end 128 may resiliently engage the inserted rod in order to first accept and then hold the rod in passage 120. One or more tabs 132 may also be provided within either first or second passage 120, 122 in order to increase the frictional hold on a received rod.

As discussed above, the upper channel 108 has an entry end 108A and a curved end 108B opposite the entry end. Side walls 102, 104 may be formed into a pair of wings 140 proximate the curved end 108B of channel 108. An arcing cutout 142 may be further provided on one or both wings 140, and a locking tab 144 may be formed onto the inner side of each wing 140 between the cutouts 142. Locking tabs 144 may be at least partially formed by the protrusion of the cutout portion 142 of the sidewalls, or alternatively may be attached or fixed to the side wall. Cutouts 142 may be cantilevered and may also move resiliently in and out of the channel 108 in order to accommodate displacement when larger sized hook-type arms 20 are received in channel 108. Cavities 146 may be further provided on the outer side of wings 140 adjacent to cutouts 142 in order to further accommodate displacement and deflection of wings 140. The resulting tabs 144 and cutouts 142 facilitate channel 108 accommodating a conformingly tight fit for a variety of hook arm 20 sizes.

A lower or tail channel 150 may be defined on the underside of connector 100 for receiving the hook-end portion of the hook-type wiper arm 20. Tail channel 150 may be defined as running through passages 120, 122, and may include a tail slot 152 dimensioned for receiving the end portion a of hook-type arms 20. In FIGS. 3 and 4, for example, a hook-type wiper arm 20 is illustrated with the end portion dimensioned to terminate prior to reaching tail slot 152. Alternatively, wiper arm 20 may have an end portion dimensioned to fit below slot 152 rather through slot 152. A lateral brace 160 may also be provided extending between side walls 102, 104 at the curved end 108B of upper channel 108. Lateral brace 160 facilitates the accommodation of larger dimensioned wiper arms 20 by extending the curved end 108B of channel 108, while simultaneously providing increased lateral support of connector 100. As discussed above, resistance to lateral forces during operation of the wiper blade 10 is critical to performance. Lateral brace 160 is optional, and may be replaced with locking tabs or any other securing structure known in the art in order for the connector 100 to accommodate smaller sized hook arms.

With reference now to FIGS. 13-22 and 44, an additional embodiment of a connector for coupling wiper arm 20 with wiper blade 10 in accordance with the disclosure, which is generally shown and described as connector 200. Connector 200 includes opposing side walls 202, 204 spaced at distance from each other, with a bridge or base 206 between. Walls 202, 204 together with base 206 define an upper channel 208 having an entry end 208A and a curved end 208B. As with upper channel 108 in the above described embodiment, upper channel 208 is dimensioned to connect with a hook-type arm 20, with the curve in the hook conforming around the curved end 208B of channel 208. Unlike the embodiment of a connector 100, connector 200 has only a single passage 220 for receiving a rivet. Connector 200 also includes wings 240, cutouts 242, tabs 244, and recesses 246. A lower or tail channel 250 is further formed between side walls 202, 204.

In order to strengthen the connection of hook arm 20 with connector 200, thereby reducing or avoiding the dithering or fishtailing phenomena described above, channel 208 may further include a reinforcement element 210 provided along at least a portion of channel 208. Reinforcement element 210 may include one or more resilient tabs 216 provided along the interior side 212 of channel 208. Upon insertion of a wiper arm 20 into channel 208, tabs 216 may be forced into their respective side walls in order to accommodate and hold the received wiper arm 20. As with element 110, reinforcement element 210 may further include overhangs or outward extrusions 214. A laterally extending support element 230 is also provided in order to improve resistant to lateral or torque forces. Unlike the illustrated embodiment of support element 130, which is an integral extension of the underside of side walls 102, 104, support element 230 is a diagonal beam or truss member for supporting the extension of channel 208.

FIGS. 23-32 and 45 illustrate an additional embodiment of a connector for coupling an alternative wiper arm 20A with wiper blade 10 in accordance with the disclosure, which is generally shown and described as connector 300. Connector 300 includes an upper channel 308 defined by side walls 302, 304 and a bridge 306 provided between side walls 302, 304. The upper channel has an entry end 308A and an opposite curved end 308B. On the underside of connector 308 is a passage 320 for receiving a rivet. A tail passage 350 is formed on the underside of connector 300 for conforming with the curved end of wiper arm 20A. A locking projection is provided on the underside of the connector on a cantilevered beam. The locking projection may engage a corresponding hole or recess in a hook wiper arm to further secure the connector to the wiper arm.

A reinforcement element or portion 310 is provided along at least portion of channel 308 in order to provide a more secure connection between arm 20A and connector 300. In this embodiment of the disclosure, reinforcement portion 310 includes extensions of side walls 302, 304, however the extensions are of different height or length with respect to each other. Accordingly, this embodiment of connector 300 is one example where the reinforcement portion of the upper channel may be non-uniform. It should be understood, however, that it is contemplated within the disclosure that other embodiments of a connector may be uniformly provided along an upper channel on both side walls.

FIGS. 33-41 and 46 illustrate an additional embodiment of the disclosure, generally shown and described as connector 400. Connector 400, which shares some similarities with connector 300, includes an upper channel 408 defined by side walls 402, 404 and a bridge 406 provided between side walls 402, 404. The upper channel has an entry end 408A and an opposite curved end 408B. On the underside of connector 408 is a passage 420 for receiving a rivet. A tail passage 450 is formed on the underside of connector 400 for conforming with the curved end of wiper arm 20A. Side walls 402, 404 are also formed into wings 440 at the curved end 408B. A locking projection is provided on the underside of the connector on a cantilevered beam. The locking projection may engage a corresponding hole or recess in a hook wiper arm to further secure the connector to the wiper arm.

A reinforcement element or portion 410 is also provided along at least a portion of channel 408 in order to provide a more secure connection between arm 20A and connector 400. As with reinforcement portion 410 of connector 400, this embodiment includes extensions of side walls 402, 404, and the extensions are of different height. In this embodiment, reinforcement portion 410 includes an overhang 418 extending over at least a portion of channel 408, and at least a portion of arm 20A is insertable through channel 408 between bridge 406 and overhang 418.

A wiper blade incorporating a connector as described above is also contemplated within the scope of the described concepts. Such wiper blades include a wiper strip and a connection device, such as a rivet or notches to which connectors as described above may attach. The wiper blade further includes a support structure for distributing the force from the wiper arm to the wiper strip. Such support structures may be brackets or frames, spring-elastic beams, a hybrid structure including both brackets and spring-elastic beams, or any other type of support structure known in the art.

Pylon® is a registered trademark, which is illustrated in the drawings for the purpose to show exemplary positions of marks, labels, or other identifying indicia which may be included in embodiments of the disclosure.

The descriptions set forth above are meant to be illustrative and not limiting, and persons of skill in the art will recognize that various common and known deviations from the above described structures are considered to be within the scope of the disclosed concepts described herein.

Claims

1. A connector for coupling a wiper blade with a wiper arm, the connector comprising:

first and second side walls spaced at a distance from each other and connected by a bridge, the first and second side walls together with the bridge defining an upper channel oriented in a longitudinal direction, the upper channel having an entry end and a curved end opposite the entry end;
a rivet passage formed into the first and second sidewalls, the rivet passage dimensioned to accept and hold a rivet of a wiper blade in order to connect the wiper blade with the connector;
a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel, the reinforcement element including at least one resilient tab provided on the inner side of the reinforcement element within the upper channel; and
a support element extending from each of the first and second side walls in order to support an extension of the bridge and upper channel.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement element includes an upward extension of at least one of the first and second walls thereby increasing the height of the upper channel.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the reinforcement element bends into the upper channel.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement element includes an outward extension which projects in a lateral direction away from the upper channel.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement element includes an overhang portion which extends over the upper channel thereby covering at least a portion of the upper channel.

6. The connector of claim 1, wherein the reinforcement element is provided on both first and second side walls.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the support element is an integral extension of the first and second side walls.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the support element is truss member.

9. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a lateral brace between the first and second side walls.

10. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a pin passage formed into the first and second side walls adjacent to the rivet passage, the pin passage dimensioned to accept and hold a pin of the wiper arm in order to connect the wiper arm with the connector.

11. The connector of claim 10, further comprising a clip including a resilient clip end extending into the pin passage in order to define at least a portion of the pin passage.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein the clip further including a upper channel portion which at least partially defines the upper channel as substantially co-planar with the bridge.

13. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a lower channel formed between the first and second side walls below the upper channel, the lower channel dimensioned to receive the end of a hook of the wiper arm, the upper channel and lower channel thereby mutually dimensioned to accept and hold the hook of the wiper arm in order to connect the wiper arm with the connector.

14. The connector of claim 1, wherein the support element is provided proximate to the entry end.

15. The connector of claim 14, wherein the support element is a truss member.

16. The connector of claim 14, wherein a first portion of the bridge and upper channel defined proximate to the entry end is angled with respect to a second portion of the bridge and upper channel defined proximate to the curved end.

17. The connector of claim 14, further comprising a pair of wings, each wing projecting from one of the side walls proximate to the curved end, and each wing projecting beyond the bridge in the longitudinal direction.

18. A wiper blade comprising:

a wiper strip;
a support structure, the support structure distributing force from a wiper arm to the wiper strip;
a connection device disposed on the support structure;
a connector for coupling the connection device of the wiper blade with a wiper arm, the connector comprising:
first and second side walls spaced at a distance from each other and connected by a bridge, the first and second side walls and the bridge defining an upper channel oriented in a longitudinal direction, the upper channel having an entry end and a curved end opposite the entry end;
a rivet passage formed into the first and second sidewalls, the rivet passage dimensioned to accept and hold a rivet of a wiper blade in order to connect the wiper blade with the connector;
a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel, the reinforcement element including at least one resilient tab provided on the inner side of the reinforcement element within the upper channel; and
a support element extending from each of the first and second side walls in order to support an extension of the bridge and upper channel.

19. A wiper blade comprising:

a wiper strip;
a support structure, the support structure distributing force from a wiper arm to the wiper strip;
a connection device disposed on the support structure;
a connector for coupling the connection device to a wiper arm, the connector comprising:
first and second side walls spaced at a distance from each other and connected by a bridge, the first and second side walls together with the bridge defining an upper channel oriented in a longitudinal direction, the upper channel having an entry end and a curved end opposite the entry end;
a rivet passage formed into the first and second sidewalls, the rivet passage dimensioned to accept and hold a rivet of a wiper blade in order to connect the wiper blade with the connector;
a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel; and
a support element provided proximate to the entry end and extending from each of the first and second side walls in order to support an extension of the bridge and upper channel,
wherein a first portion of the bridge and upper channel defined proximate to the entry end is angled with respect to a second portion of the bridge and upper channel defined proximate to the curved end, and
wherein at least two resilient tabs are provided on the inner side of the reinforcement element within the upper channel, at least one tab provided on the first portion of the bridge and at least one tab provided on the second portion of the bridge.

20. A connector for coupling a wiper blade with a wiper arm, the connector comprising:

first and second side walls spaced at a distance from each other and connected by a bridge, the first and second side walls together with the bridge defining an upper channel oriented in a longitudinal direction, the upper channel having an entry end and a curved end opposite the entry end;
a rivet passage formed into the first and second sidewalls, the rivet passage dimensioned to accept and hold a rivet of a wiper blade in order to connect the wiper blade with the connector;
a reinforcement element provided on at least one of the first or second side walls proximate to the upper channel; and
a support element provided proximate to the entry end and extending from each of the first and second side walls in order to support an extension of the bridge and upper channel,
wherein a first portion of the bridge and upper channel defined proximate to the entry end is angled with respect to a second portion of the bridge and upper channel defined proximate to the curved end, and
wherein at least two resilient tabs are provided on the inner side of the reinforcement element within the upper channel, at least one tab provided on the first portion of the bridge and at least one tab provided on the second portion of the bridge.
Referenced Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
D56762 December 1920 Minier
2310751 February 1943 Scinta
2550094 April 1951 Smulski
2589339 March 1952 Carson
2616112 November 1952 Smulski
2643411 June 1953 Nesson
2658223 November 1953 Enochian
2799887 July 1957 Nemic
2801436 August 1957 Scinta
2814820 December 1957 Elliot et al.
2890472 June 1959 Olson
2932843 April 1960 Zaiger et al.
2937393 May 1960 Brueder
2946078 July 1960 Deibel et al.
3029460 April 1962 Hoyler
3037233 June 1962 Peras et al.
3056991 October 1962 Smithers
3082464 March 1963 Smithers
3088155 May 1963 Smithers
3089174 May 1963 Bignon
3104412 September 1963 Hinder
3116510 January 1964 Oishei et al.
3132367 May 1964 Wise
3139644 July 1964 Smith
3147506 September 1964 Williams
3147507 September 1964 Glynm
3192551 July 1965 Appel
3234578 February 1966 Golub et al.
3296647 January 1967 Gumbleton
3317945 May 1967 Ludwig
3317946 May 1967 Anderson
3350738 November 1967 Anderson
D211570 July 1968 Tomlin
3405421 October 1968 Tomlin
3418679 December 1968 Barth et al.
3480986 December 1969 Forster
3588941 June 1971 Schlesinger
3588942 June 1971 Schlesinger
3618155 November 1971 Mower
3665544 May 1972 Sakamoto
3673631 July 1972 Yamadai et al.
3685086 August 1972 Frohlich
3751754 August 1973 Quinlan et al.
3757377 September 1973 Hayhurst
3780395 December 1973 Quinlan et al.
3857741 December 1974 Hultgren et al.
3862465 January 1975 Ito
3872535 March 1975 Arman
3872537 March 1975 Bianchi
3879793 April 1975 Schlegel
3879794 April 1975 Roberts, Jr.
3881213 May 1975 Tilli
3881214 May 1975 Palu
D236337 August 1975 Deibel
3929222 December 1975 Smith et al.
3942212 March 9, 1976 Steger et al.
3969784 July 20, 1976 Journee
D240809 August 1976 Deibel
3995347 December 7, 1976 Kohler
4007511 February 15, 1977 Deibel
4009504 March 1, 1977 Arman
4028770 June 14, 1977 Appel
4047480 September 13, 1977 Vassiliou
4063328 December 20, 1977 Arman
D248375 July 4, 1978 Bergstein
D248388 July 4, 1978 Hughes
4102003 July 25, 1978 Hancu
4127912 December 5, 1978 Deibel et al.
4127916 December 5, 1978 Van den Berg et al.
D253040 October 2, 1979 Fournier et al.
D253167 October 16, 1979 Fournier et al.
D257339 October 14, 1980 Ellinwood
4239104 December 16, 1980 Roccaforte et al.
4308635 January 5, 1982 Maiocco
4309790 January 12, 1982 Bauer et al.
4324019 April 13, 1982 Mohnach et al.
4327458 May 4, 1982 Maiocco
4334001 June 8, 1982 Horie et al.
4339839 July 20, 1982 Knights
4342126 August 3, 1982 Neefeldt
4343063 August 10, 1982 Batt
4343064 August 10, 1982 van den Berg et al.
4354293 October 19, 1982 Le Sausse et al.
D267939 February 15, 1983 Duvoux
D267940 February 15, 1983 Duvoux
D268020 February 22, 1983 Duvoux
4400845 August 30, 1983 Noguchi et al.
4416032 November 22, 1983 Mohnach et al.
4422207 December 27, 1983 Maiocco et al.
4438543 March 27, 1984 Noguchi et al.
4464808 August 14, 1984 Berry
4547925 October 22, 1985 Blackborow et al.
4561143 December 31, 1985 Beneteau
D282243 January 21, 1986 Mason
D282718 February 25, 1986 Fireman
4570284 February 18, 1986 Verton
4587686 May 13, 1986 Thompson
4590638 May 27, 1986 Beneteau
D286499 November 4, 1986 Moreno
D287709 January 13, 1987 Mower et al.
4649591 March 17, 1987 Guerard
4670284 June 2, 1987 Berkoff
4670934 June 9, 1987 Epple et al.
D295020 April 5, 1988 Franchi
4741071 May 3, 1988 Bauer et al.
D296317 June 21, 1988 Mower et al.
4760934 August 2, 1988 Epple et al.
4766636 August 30, 1988 Shinpo
D298116 October 18, 1988 Sussich
4782547 November 8, 1988 Mohnach
D298926 December 13, 1988 Rusnak
4795288 January 3, 1989 Sakai
4807326 February 28, 1989 Arai et al.
D301329 May 30, 1989 Cavicchioli
4852206 August 1, 1989 Fisher
D304709 November 21, 1989 Sussich
D307408 April 24, 1990 Mower et al.
D308352 June 5, 1990 Bradley
D308660 June 19, 1990 Fisher
D308845 June 26, 1990 Charet et al.
4930180 June 5, 1990 Longman
D310193 August 28, 1990 Charet
4971472 November 20, 1990 Pethers
4976001 December 11, 1990 Wright
4984325 January 15, 1991 Arai et al.
4989290 February 5, 1991 Hoshino
5027947 July 2, 1991 Reighart
5042106 August 27, 1991 Maubray
5056183 October 15, 1991 Haney, III
5062176 November 5, 1991 Unterborn et al.
D322053 December 3, 1991 Bradley
D322772 December 31, 1991 Leu et al.
D322952 January 7, 1992 Wu
5082078 January 21, 1992 Umeda et al.
D323637 February 4, 1992 Dipple
D324014 February 18, 1992 Ruminer
5084933 February 4, 1992 Buechele
5086534 February 11, 1992 Journee
D324359 March 3, 1992 Chen
D324667 March 17, 1992 Williams
5093954 March 10, 1992 Kuzuno
D327013 June 16, 1992 Reighart
D327461 June 30, 1992 Nelson
5123140 June 23, 1992 Raymond
D327667 July 7, 1992 Mar
D328061 July 21, 1992 Su
5138739 August 18, 1992 Maubray
D329034 September 1, 1992 Charet et al.
D329997 October 6, 1992 Leu
D330181 October 13, 1992 Charet et al.
D330691 November 3, 1992 Leu
D330696 November 3, 1992 Alain
D331036 November 17, 1992 Isley
D331037 November 17, 1992 Hsi
D331212 November 24, 1992 Poteet
D331556 December 8, 1992 Ismert
5168596 December 8, 1992 Maubray
5170527 December 15, 1992 Lyon, II
D332593 January 19, 1993 Gerardiello et al.
5179761 January 19, 1993 Buechele et al.
5182831 February 2, 1993 Knight
D334161 March 23, 1993 Wu et al.
D334549 April 6, 1993 Esquibel
5206969 May 4, 1993 Patterson et al.
D336739 June 22, 1993 Wu et al.
5218735 June 15, 1993 Maubray
5228167 July 20, 1993 Yang
5233721 August 10, 1993 Yang
D341561 November 23, 1993 Heckman et al.
5257436 November 2, 1993 Yang
D342225 December 14, 1993 Heckman et al.
5276937 January 11, 1994 Lan
5283925 February 8, 1994 Maubray
D345329 March 22, 1994 Kanellis et al.
D345330 March 22, 1994 Yang
D345537 March 29, 1994 Bianco et al.
D345538 March 29, 1994 Bianco et al.
5289608 March 1, 1994 Kim
5307536 May 3, 1994 Lescher
5311636 May 17, 1994 Lee
5312177 May 17, 1994 Coulter
D347610 June 7, 1994 Charet et al.
5319826 June 14, 1994 Mower
5325564 July 5, 1994 Swanepoel
D349877 August 23, 1994 Oyama
5333351 August 2, 1994 Sato
D350723 September 20, 1994 Longazel
5349716 September 27, 1994 Millar
5361896 November 8, 1994 Yang
D353354 December 13, 1994 Oyama
5372449 December 13, 1994 Bauer et al.
5383248 January 24, 1995 Hi
5383249 January 24, 1995 Yang
5392489 February 28, 1995 Mohnach
D357626 April 25, 1995 Snow et al.
5408719 April 25, 1995 DeRees et al.
5412177 May 2, 1995 Clark
5435041 July 25, 1995 Ho
5454135 October 3, 1995 Okuya et al.
5459900 October 24, 1995 Mege et al.
5463790 November 7, 1995 Chiou et al.
D365079 December 12, 1995 Abbott et al.
5485650 January 23, 1996 Swanepoel
5487205 January 30, 1996 Scherch et al.
5497528 March 12, 1996 Wu
5509166 April 23, 1996 Wagner et al.
D370199 May 28, 1996 Kim
5519913 May 28, 1996 Schedule
D370653 June 11, 1996 Kim
D370654 June 11, 1996 Kim
D372217 July 30, 1996 Abbott et al.
5564157 October 15, 1996 Kushida et al.
5566419 October 22, 1996 Zhou
5568670 October 29, 1996 Samples et al.
D375289 November 5, 1996 Waselewski et al.
5577292 November 26, 1996 Blachetta et al.
D376792 December 24, 1996 Chodkiewicz
5593125 January 14, 1997 Storz et al.
D377754 February 4, 1997 Abbott et al.
5606765 March 4, 1997 Ding
5606766 March 4, 1997 Lee
5628085 May 13, 1997 Edele et al.
D379613 June 3, 1997 Chen
5647088 July 15, 1997 Bommer et al.
D382848 August 26, 1997 Chen
5661870 September 2, 1997 Eustache et al.
5661871 September 2, 1997 Scorsiroli
D389449 January 20, 1998 Hussaini
D390823 February 17, 1998 Baranowski et al.
D392612 March 24, 1998 Jonasson et al.
5732437 March 31, 1998 Jonasson et al.
D393619 April 21, 1998 Jeffer et al.
5742973 April 28, 1998 Kessler
D395271 June 16, 1998 Kim
D395864 July 7, 1998 Stahlhut et al.
D395865 July 7, 1998 Powell et al.
D396840 August 11, 1998 Vita
5791010 August 11, 1998 Brady et al.
5807016 September 15, 1998 Herring
5819361 October 13, 1998 Merkel et al.
5836110 November 17, 1998 Buening
D402953 December 22, 1998 Kim
D404354 January 19, 1999 Witek et al.
D406094 February 23, 1999 Lai
D406257 March 2, 1999 Lee
D406755 March 16, 1999 Garganese
D406756 March 16, 1999 Garganese
5875672 March 2, 1999 Fourie et al.
5885023 March 23, 1999 Witek et al.
5889334 March 30, 1999 Hongo
5899334 May 4, 1999 Domerchie et al.
D411161 June 22, 1999 Wooten
D411504 June 29, 1999 Hsu
5907885 June 1, 1999 Tilli et al.
5911358 June 15, 1999 Kenner et al.
5920947 July 13, 1999 Varner
D413261 August 31, 1999 Yerich
D414456 September 28, 1999 Hussaini et al.
5970569 October 26, 1999 Merkel et al.
5970570 October 26, 1999 Groninger
D417180 November 30, 1999 Shih
D418103 December 28, 1999 Don
D418474 January 4, 2000 Witek et al.
D419950 February 1, 2000 Spector
6026537 February 22, 2000 Hojnacki
6055697 May 2, 2000 Wollenschlaeger
6063216 May 16, 2000 Damm et al.
D427134 June 27, 2000 Lee
6070723 June 6, 2000 Lewis
6088872 July 18, 2000 Schmid et al.
D430097 August 29, 2000 Breesch et al.
6101665 August 15, 2000 Sahara et al.
D431223 September 26, 2000 Breesch et al.
6119301 September 19, 2000 Nakatsukasa et al.
D431520 October 3, 2000 Breesch et al.
D432072 October 17, 2000 Breesch et al.
D434715 December 5, 2000 Wang
6158078 December 12, 2000 Kotlarski
6161248 December 19, 2000 Merkel et al.
6192546 February 27, 2001 Kotlarski
6202251 March 20, 2001 Kotlarski
6216311 April 17, 2001 Van Damme et al.
D442537 May 22, 2001 Kim
6226829 May 8, 2001 Kotlarski
D443245 June 5, 2001 Kim
D443582 June 12, 2001 De Block
D443854 June 19, 2001 De Block
6247590 June 19, 2001 Baker
D444760 July 10, 2001 Houssat
D445754 July 31, 2001 Benoit
6266843 July 31, 2001 Doman et al.
6279191 August 28, 2001 Kotlarski et al.
6279746 August 28, 2001 Hussaini et al.
D448295 September 25, 2001 Mozes
6286176 September 11, 2001 Westermann et al.
6292974 September 25, 2001 Merket et al.
6295690 October 2, 2001 Merkel et al.
6301742 October 16, 2001 Kota
6305066 October 23, 2001 De Paolo et al.
6308373 October 30, 2001 Merkel et al.
6327738 December 11, 2001 Lewis
6332236 December 25, 2001 Ku
6336243 January 8, 2002 Charng
D453316 February 5, 2002 Watanabe
6363569 April 2, 2002 Kotlarski
6367117 April 9, 2002 Sahara et al.
D457479 May 21, 2002 De Block et al.
6393654 May 28, 2002 Nacamuli
6397428 June 4, 2002 Kotlarski
6415473 July 9, 2002 Rapp
D462044 August 27, 2002 Gfatter et al.
6427282 August 6, 2002 Kotlarski
6434780 August 20, 2002 Kotlarski
D462262 September 3, 2002 Leja
6449797 September 17, 2002 De Block
6453505 September 24, 2002 Terai
D464012 October 8, 2002 Hussaini et al.
D464600 October 22, 2002 Chen
6499181 December 31, 2002 Kotlarski
D469731 February 4, 2003 Geer
6513186 February 4, 2003 Zimmer
6516491 February 11, 2003 Merkel et al.
6523218 February 25, 2003 Kotlarski
D471505 March 11, 2003 Wang
6530111 March 11, 2003 Kotlarski
D472510 April 1, 2003 Lin
D473180 April 15, 2003 Sun
D473507 April 22, 2003 Huang
6550096 April 22, 2003 Stewart et al.
6553607 April 29, 2003 De Block
D474143 May 6, 2003 Ho
6564441 May 20, 2003 Ibe et al.
6581237 June 24, 2003 Kotlarski
6606759 August 19, 2003 Hoshino
6609267 August 26, 2003 Journee et al.
6611988 September 2, 2003 De Block
6619094 September 16, 2003 Juhl
6622540 September 23, 2003 Jones et al.
6625842 September 30, 2003 De Block
6632738 October 14, 2003 Sone
6634056 October 21, 2003 De Block
6640380 November 4, 2003 Rosenstein
6643889 November 11, 2003 Kotlarski
6651292 November 25, 2003 Komerska
6665904 December 23, 2003 Kerchaert
6668419 December 30, 2003 Kotlarski
6675433 January 13, 2004 Stewart et al.
6675434 January 13, 2004 Wilhelm et al.
6681440 January 27, 2004 Zimmer et al.
D487047 February 24, 2004 Kim
6687948 February 10, 2004 Kotlarski
6718594 April 13, 2004 Kotlarski
D490763 June 1, 2004 Kim
6766906 July 27, 2004 Charng
D494125 August 10, 2004 Leu
D494527 August 17, 2004 Hsu
D494528 August 17, 2004 Chiang
6785931 September 7, 2004 Lee et al.
6789289 September 14, 2004 Roodt
6792644 September 21, 2004 Roodt
6796000 September 28, 2004 Varner
6806452 October 19, 2004 Bos et al.
6810555 November 2, 2004 Ritt
6810556 November 2, 2004 Kotlarski
6813803 November 9, 2004 Leutsch
6813923 November 9, 2004 Jones et al.
6820302 November 23, 2004 Zimmer
6820303 November 23, 2004 Zimmer et al.
6820304 November 23, 2004 Gossez et al.
D499962 December 21, 2004 Lee et al.
D500728 January 11, 2005 Leu
6836924 January 4, 2005 Egan-Walter
6836925 January 4, 2005 Swanepoel
6836926 January 4, 2005 De Block
6836927 January 4, 2005 De Block et al.
D501819 February 15, 2005 Hsu
6857160 February 22, 2005 Weiler et al.
6859971 March 1, 2005 Siklosi
6874195 April 5, 2005 Kotlarski
6883966 April 26, 2005 Zimmer
6886213 May 3, 2005 Merkel et al.
6904639 June 14, 2005 Dietrich et al.
6910243 June 28, 2005 Zimmer
6910244 June 28, 2005 De Block et al.
D508226 August 9, 2005 Lin
D508888 August 30, 2005 Carroll
6944905 September 20, 2005 De Block et al.
6946810 September 20, 2005 Kohlrausch
6951043 October 4, 2005 Fehrsen
D511735 November 22, 2005 Aoyama et al.
6964079 November 15, 2005 Zimmer
6964080 November 15, 2005 Knauf
6966096 November 22, 2005 Baseotto et al.
D512362 December 6, 2005 Breesch et al.
6973698 December 13, 2005 Kotlarski
6978511 December 27, 2005 Poton
6978512 December 27, 2005 Dietrich et al.
7007339 March 7, 2006 Weilet et al.
7024722 April 11, 2006 Neubauer et al.
7036181 May 2, 2006 Zimmer
D522380 June 6, 2006 Dibnah et al.
7055207 June 6, 2006 Coughlin
7055208 June 6, 2006 Merkel et al.
7076829 July 18, 2006 Ritt
D527336 August 29, 2006 Van Baelen
7093317 August 22, 2006 Zimmer
7134163 November 14, 2006 Varner
7137167 November 21, 2006 Torii et al.
7143463 December 5, 2006 Baseotto et al.
7150065 December 19, 2006 Zimmer
7150066 December 19, 2006 Huang
7150795 December 19, 2006 Javaruski et al.
7166979 January 23, 2007 Zimmer
7171718 February 6, 2007 Moein et al.
D538218 March 13, 2007 Elwell et al.
7196440 March 27, 2007 Lamprecht
7207082 April 24, 2007 Lee
7228588 June 12, 2007 Kraemer et al.
D546669 July 17, 2007 Sheppard et al.
D547713 July 31, 2007 Goeller
D549151 August 21, 2007 Janssis et al.
D549152 August 21, 2007 Goeller
7256565 August 14, 2007 Merkel et al.
7257856 August 21, 2007 Zimmer
7258233 August 21, 2007 Lee
7272890 September 25, 2007 Zimmer et al.
D552486 October 9, 2007 Herring et al.
7281294 October 16, 2007 Wilms et al.
D556118 November 27, 2007 Claes
7293321 November 13, 2007 Breesch
7299520 November 27, 2007 Huang
7316047 January 8, 2008 Thienard
7316048 January 8, 2008 Yamane et al.
7316087 January 8, 2008 Smith
D564434 March 18, 2008 Claes
D564955 March 25, 2008 Claes
7337900 March 4, 2008 Reiber et al.
7341396 March 11, 2008 Huang
7353562 April 8, 2008 Huang
D569327 May 20, 2008 Lin
D569328 May 20, 2008 Lin
7370385 May 13, 2008 Chiang
D573457 July 22, 2008 Park
7398577 July 15, 2008 Genet
D575146 August 19, 2008 Lee
D577324 September 23, 2008 McCray
7434291 October 14, 2008 Chiang
D579849 November 4, 2008 Garrastacho et al.
7451520 November 18, 2008 Weiler et al.
D582765 December 16, 2008 Gustafson et al.
7461429 December 9, 2008 Huang
7464433 December 16, 2008 Thomar et al.
D584160 January 6, 2009 Zimmermann
7472451 January 6, 2009 Hara et al.
D586663 February 17, 2009 Tidqvist
D586716 February 17, 2009 Radfar
D586717 February 17, 2009 Depondt
D587186 February 24, 2009 Herinckx et al.
7484264 February 3, 2009 Kraemer et al.
7493672 February 24, 2009 Op't Roodt
D588933 March 24, 2009 Bonzagni et al.
7503095 March 17, 2009 Lin et al.
7506401 March 24, 2009 Park
7509704 March 31, 2009 Bauer et al.
7523519 April 28, 2009 Egner-Walter et al.
7523520 April 28, 2009 Breesch
7523522 April 28, 2009 Herring et al.
D592121 May 12, 2009 Bratec et al.
7526832 May 5, 2009 Matsumoto et al.
7527151 May 5, 2009 Park
D593480 June 2, 2009 Kim
D593923 June 9, 2009 Bratec et al.
7543353 June 9, 2009 Ko
7552502 June 30, 2009 Kagawa et al.
D596102 July 14, 2009 Kim
7559110 July 14, 2009 Kotlarski et al.
D601077 September 29, 2009 Kim
7581280 September 1, 2009 Op't Roodt et al.
7581887 September 1, 2009 Zimmer
7584520 September 8, 2009 Hussaini
7596479 September 29, 2009 Weiler et al.
7603741 October 20, 2009 Verelst et al.
7603742 October 20, 2009 Nakano et al.
7607194 October 27, 2009 Weber et al.
7614499 November 10, 2009 Mueller
7621016 November 24, 2009 Verelst et al.
7628560 December 8, 2009 Westermann et al.
7634833 December 22, 2009 Boland et al.
7636980 December 29, 2009 Nakano
D608717 January 26, 2010 Aglassinger
D610518 February 23, 2010 Aglassinger
D610519 February 23, 2010 Aglassinger
D610520 February 23, 2010 Aglassinger
D611809 March 16, 2010 Borgerson et al.
7669276 March 2, 2010 Verelst et al.
7687565 March 30, 2010 Geilenkirchen
7690073 April 6, 2010 Marmoy et al.
7690509 April 6, 2010 Herring et al.
7699169 April 20, 2010 Lewis
D615918 May 18, 2010 Kim
7707680 May 4, 2010 Hawighorst et al.
7716780 May 18, 2010 Scholl et al.
7718509 May 18, 2010 Endo et al.
7743457 June 29, 2010 Metz
7748076 July 6, 2010 Weiler et al.
D621322 August 10, 2010 Lee et al.
7780214 August 24, 2010 Kraus et al.
7788761 September 7, 2010 Weiler et al.
7793382 September 14, 2010 Van De Rovaart
7797787 September 21, 2010 Wilms et al.
7805800 October 5, 2010 Wilms et al.
7810206 October 12, 2010 Weiler et al.
7814611 October 19, 2010 Heinrich et al.
D627288 November 16, 2010 Lee
7823953 November 2, 2010 Haas
7832045 November 16, 2010 Weiler et al.
7832047 November 16, 2010 Herinckx et al.
7836542 November 23, 2010 Dietrich et al.
7849553 December 14, 2010 Weiler et al.
D632557 February 15, 2011 Clamagirand et al.
7886401 February 15, 2011 Weber et al.
7891043 February 22, 2011 Kraus et al.
7891044 February 22, 2011 Fink et al.
7895702 March 1, 2011 Tisch et al.
7895703 March 1, 2011 Ina et al.
7898141 March 1, 2011 Hurst et al.
7899596 March 1, 2011 Zimmer
7908703 March 22, 2011 Van Bealen
7908704 March 22, 2011 Kraemer
7921503 April 12, 2011 Chiang
7921504 April 12, 2011 Chiang
7921506 April 12, 2011 Chiang
7926659 April 19, 2011 Kim
7930796 April 26, 2011 Weiler et al.
D637132 May 3, 2011 Kim
7937798 May 10, 2011 Fink et al.
7941891 May 17, 2011 Breesch
7941892 May 17, 2011 Kraus et al.
7945985 May 24, 2011 Stubner
7945987 May 24, 2011 Verelst et al.
7950717 May 31, 2011 Metz
7962787 June 14, 2011 Camilleri et al.
7966689 June 28, 2011 Rovaart et al.
7971312 July 5, 2011 Crabee et al.
7975849 July 12, 2011 Kim
7979950 July 19, 2011 Boland
7989955 August 2, 2011 Yagi
7989995 August 2, 2011 Reith et al.
7992248 August 9, 2011 Koppen et al.
7996953 August 16, 2011 Braun et al.
D644925 September 13, 2011 Jaworski
8020246 September 20, 2011 Bauer et al.
8020248 September 20, 2011 Hasegawa
8020249 September 20, 2011 Masuda et al.
8024836 September 27, 2011 Moll et al.
8026645 September 27, 2011 Stubner et al.
D647451 October 25, 2011 Lin
8042690 October 25, 2011 Lewis
D647795 November 1, 2011 Eaton et al.
8051526 November 8, 2011 Summerville et al.
8060976 November 22, 2011 Mayer et al.
8069528 December 6, 2011 Verelst et al.
8076807 December 13, 2011 Bohn et al.
D651509 January 3, 2012 Methe et al.
8096013 January 17, 2012 Eschenbrenner et al.
8099823 January 24, 2012 Kraemer et al.
8104134 January 31, 2012 Ritt
8104136 January 31, 2012 Carangelo
8117710 February 21, 2012 Kraus et al.
8125111 February 28, 2012 Bohn et al.
8141198 March 27, 2012 Wilms et al.
8148467 April 3, 2012 Pieters et al.
8151656 April 10, 2012 Nicgorski, II
8156604 April 17, 2012 Kraus et al.
8156605 April 17, 2012 Dietrich et al.
8165796 April 24, 2012 Hoetzer
D658494 May 1, 2012 Raimer et al.
8166605 May 1, 2012 Lee
8169791 May 1, 2012 Wolf et al.
8180518 May 15, 2012 Petricoin, Jr.
8181305 May 22, 2012 Boos
8181306 May 22, 2012 Merkel
8181307 May 22, 2012 Wilms et al.
8181308 May 22, 2012 Kwon et al.
8186002 May 29, 2012 Kinnaert et al.
8191200 June 5, 2012 Kim
8191201 June 5, 2012 De Block et al.
8196253 June 12, 2012 Barlas
8196254 June 12, 2012 Mahfoudh et al.
8196255 June 12, 2012 De Block et al.
8205290 June 26, 2012 Weiler et al.
8205291 June 26, 2012 Eschenbrenner et al.
8214965 July 10, 2012 Volz et al.
8230547 July 31, 2012 Wilms et al.
8234746 August 7, 2012 Lutterodt et al.
8245350 August 21, 2012 Van De Rostyne et al.
8256851 September 4, 2012 Pelosse
8261403 September 11, 2012 Ehde
8261405 September 11, 2012 Kim et al.
8261628 September 11, 2012 Moecklin et al.
8266759 September 18, 2012 Braun et al.
8272096 September 25, 2012 Wilms et al.
8272360 September 25, 2012 Hartmann et al.
8286533 October 16, 2012 Hurst et al.
8294327 October 23, 2012 Chaumet et al.
D671827 December 4, 2012 Raimer et al.
8322456 December 4, 2012 Pozgay et al.
8327500 December 11, 2012 De Block et al.
8328011 December 11, 2012 Skurdalsvold et al.
8333093 December 18, 2012 Kleckner et al.
D674733 January 22, 2013 Lee
8341799 January 1, 2013 Koppen
8356520 January 22, 2013 Hurst et al.
8359701 January 29, 2013 De Block et al.
8361595 January 29, 2013 Van De Rostyne et al.
8370986 February 12, 2013 Wilms et al.
8370987 February 12, 2013 Ritt
8370988 February 12, 2013 Kraus et al.
8373322 February 12, 2013 Wegner et al.
8375503 February 19, 2013 Aznag
8381348 February 26, 2013 Egner-Walter et al.
8381349 February 26, 2013 Ku
8381350 February 26, 2013 Op't Roodt et al.
8397340 March 19, 2013 Weiler et al.
8397341 March 19, 2013 Ehde
D679234 April 2, 2013 Depondt
D679235 April 2, 2013 Depondt
D680051 April 16, 2013 Tolentino et al.
8410651 April 2, 2013 Lauk
8413202 April 2, 2013 Yang et al.
8413291 April 9, 2013 Wu
8418644 April 16, 2013 Fiedor et al.
8424149 April 23, 2013 Coemans et al.
8429786 April 30, 2013 Van Baelen et al.
8434621 May 7, 2013 Hun et al.
8448289 May 28, 2013 Reith et al.
8448290 May 28, 2013 Op't Roodt et al.
D684862 June 25, 2013 DiFranza
8453292 June 4, 2013 Jeon
D685260 July 2, 2013 Thielemier
D686912 July 30, 2013 Ehde et al.
8474088 July 2, 2013 Wu
8484794 July 16, 2013 Westermann et al.
8490239 July 23, 2013 Ehde
8495787 July 30, 2013 Garrastacho et al.
8499408 August 6, 2013 Boland
8505151 August 13, 2013 Depondt et al.
8505152 August 13, 2013 Boland
8505724 August 13, 2013 Bult et al.
8510895 August 20, 2013 Beelen et al.
8510897 August 20, 2013 Ku
8510898 August 20, 2013 Ku
8522393 September 3, 2013 Boland
8539634 September 24, 2013 Wilms et al.
8544136 October 1, 2013 Kraemer et al.
8544137 October 1, 2013 Thienard
8549695 October 8, 2013 Reith et al.
8552113 October 8, 2013 Pieters et al.
8555455 October 15, 2013 Boland
8555456 October 15, 2013 Ehde
8561717 October 22, 2013 Pozgay et al.
D692750 November 5, 2013 Ehde et al.
D692818 November 5, 2013 Tolentino et al.
D692819 November 5, 2013 Tolentino et al.
D693213 November 12, 2013 Lee et al.
8574791 November 5, 2013 Maus et al.
8575078 November 5, 2013 Duval et al.
8581530 November 12, 2013 Tisch
8582809 November 12, 2013 Halimeh et al.
8584303 November 19, 2013 Wolfgarten et al.
8590097 November 26, 2013 Bohn et al.
D695632 December 17, 2013 Akana et al.
8595888 December 3, 2013 Op't Roodt et al.
8595889 December 3, 2013 Op't Roodt et al.
8613357 December 24, 2013 Putnam
D697790 January 21, 2014 Iwegbu
8646181 February 11, 2014 Baumann et al.
D700524 March 4, 2014 Ferriter
8661602 March 4, 2014 Op't Roodt et al.
D702619 April 15, 2014 Kim
8686612 April 1, 2014 Roos et al.
8707506 April 29, 2014 Wu
D704127 May 6, 2014 Depondt
D704128 May 6, 2014 Depondt
D704129 May 6, 2014 Depondt
D704619 May 13, 2014 Kim
D704620 May 13, 2014 Kim
8717011 May 6, 2014 Henning
8719994 May 13, 2014 Thienard et al.
8720033 May 13, 2014 Koppen et al.
8728367 May 20, 2014 Lay et al.
D706200 June 3, 2014 Tolentino et al.
D706201 June 3, 2014 Depondt
D706202 June 3, 2014 Depondt
8745812 June 10, 2014 Kruse et al.
8745813 June 10, 2014 Ishida et al.
8749186 June 10, 2014 Stubner et al.
8759449 June 24, 2014 Pieters et al.
D708890 July 15, 2014 Kim et al.
D709362 July 22, 2014 Kim
8769762 July 8, 2014 Op't Roodt et al.
8770063 July 8, 2014 Bhatti
8782847 July 22, 2014 Depondt
D711217 August 19, 2014 Jacobs et al.
8800097 August 12, 2014 Wegner et al.
8800099 August 12, 2014 Boland
8806700 August 19, 2014 Tolentino et al.
8813608 August 26, 2014 Hurst et al.
8823228 September 2, 2014 Mili et al.
8839483 September 23, 2014 Roodt et al.
D714635 October 7, 2014 Demar et al.
D715142 October 14, 2014 Allen et al.
8850653 October 7, 2014 Depondt
8854455 October 7, 2014 Haug
8857595 October 14, 2014 Mili et al.
8863370 October 21, 2014 Weiler et al.
8871994 October 28, 2014 Wei et al.
D717225 November 11, 2014 Kuo
8881338 November 11, 2014 Thielen et al.
8893348 November 25, 2014 Vankerkhove et al.
8909421 December 9, 2014 Zimmer
8913132 December 16, 2014 Seger et al.
8913133 December 16, 2014 Huelsen et al.
8917323 December 23, 2014 Seger et al.
8931133 January 13, 2015 Coart et al.
8935056 January 13, 2015 Zimmer
8938847 January 27, 2015 Avasiloaie et al.
8950034 February 10, 2015 Wilms
8950035 February 10, 2015 Benner et al.
8957619 February 17, 2015 Karcher
8963464 February 24, 2015 Braun et al.
D725025 March 24, 2015 Poton
8973207 March 10, 2015 Depondt
8973209 March 10, 2015 Depondt
8979066 March 17, 2015 Pfetzer et al.
8984707 March 24, 2015 Boland
8985241 March 24, 2015 Pozgay et al.
8997304 April 7, 2015 Oslizlo et al.
9003594 April 14, 2015 Guidez
9003596 April 14, 2015 Avasiloaie et al.
9008905 April 14, 2015 Prskawetz et al.
9015896 April 28, 2015 De Block
9018877 April 28, 2015 Braun et al.
9021651 May 5, 2015 Wolfgarten
9021652 May 5, 2015 Coemans et al.
9045111 June 2, 2015 Zimmer
9045113 June 2, 2015 Aznag et al.
9050946 June 9, 2015 Zimmer et al.
9056595 June 16, 2015 Wegner et al.
9071089 June 30, 2015 Kastinger et al.
9073519 July 7, 2015 Depondt
9079567 July 14, 2015 Wegner et al.
9096196 August 4, 2015 Wipfr
9108595 August 18, 2015 Tolentino
9114754 August 25, 2015 Ehlgen et al.
9114783 August 25, 2015 Depondt
9120463 September 1, 2015 Kim et al.
9120464 September 1, 2015 Pack et al.
9151372 October 6, 2015 Keller
9174609 November 3, 2015 Tolentino et al.
9174611 November 3, 2015 Tolentino et al.
9180839 November 10, 2015 Oslizlo et al.
D744331 December 1, 2015 Vos et al.
9211867 December 15, 2015 Beelen et al.
9211868 December 15, 2015 Bousset et al.
9225274 December 29, 2015 Lingenfelser et al.
D746700 January 5, 2016 Boehnen et al.
9227596 January 5, 2016 Van De Rovaart et al.
9227598 January 5, 2016 Smets et al.
9233664 January 12, 2016 Weidlich
9254820 February 9, 2016 Geubel et al.
9260085 February 16, 2016 Bex et al.
9266504 February 23, 2016 De Block
9272676 March 1, 2016 Heger et al.
9505380 November 29, 2016 Tolentino et al.
D777079 January 24, 2017 Tolentino et al.
D784804 April 25, 2017 Peers et al.
D787308 May 23, 2017 Kawashima et al.
D787312 May 23, 2017 Peers et al.
20010013236 August 16, 2001 Weyerstall et al.
20020043092 April 18, 2002 Jones et al.
20020112306 August 22, 2002 Komerska
20020174505 November 28, 2002 Kim
20030014828 January 23, 2003 Edner-Walter et al.
20030028990 February 13, 2003 Zimmer
20030033683 February 20, 2003 Kotlarski
20030074763 April 24, 2003 Egner-Walter et al.
20030159229 August 28, 2003 Weiler et al.
20030209049 November 13, 2003 Jones et al.
20030221276 December 4, 2003 Siklosi
20030229961 December 18, 2003 Barnett
20040010882 January 22, 2004 Breesch
20040025280 February 12, 2004 Krickau et al.
20040025281 February 12, 2004 Baseotto et al.
20040052577 March 18, 2004 Lee et al.
20040098821 May 27, 2004 Kraemer et al.
20040123414 July 1, 2004 Lee
20040159994 August 19, 2004 Lenzen et al.
20040211021 October 28, 2004 Weber et al.
20040244137 December 9, 2004 Poton
20040250369 December 16, 2004 Matsumoto et al.
20050005387 January 13, 2005 Kinoshita et al.
20050011033 January 20, 2005 Thomar et al.
20050039292 February 24, 2005 Boland
20050166349 August 4, 2005 Nakano et al.
20050177970 August 18, 2005 Scholl et al.
20050252812 November 17, 2005 Lewis
20060010636 January 19, 2006 Vacher
20060026786 February 9, 2006 Ku
20060112511 June 1, 2006 Op't Roodt et al.
20060117515 June 8, 2006 Fink et al.
20060130263 June 22, 2006 Coughlin
20060156529 July 20, 2006 Thomar et al.
20060179597 August 17, 2006 Hoshino et al.
20060218740 October 5, 2006 Coughlin
20060230571 October 19, 2006 Son
20060248675 November 9, 2006 Vacher et al.
20060282972 December 21, 2006 Huang
20070017056 January 25, 2007 Cooke et al.
20070067939 March 29, 2007 Huang
20070067941 March 29, 2007 Huang
20070089257 April 26, 2007 Harita et al.
20070089527 April 26, 2007 Shank et al.
20070186366 August 16, 2007 Alley
20070220698 September 27, 2007 Huang
20070226940 October 4, 2007 Thienard
20070226941 October 4, 2007 Kraemer et al.
20070234501 October 11, 2007 Ho et al.
20070266517 November 22, 2007 Kim et al.
20080083082 April 10, 2008 Rovaart et al.
20080086830 April 17, 2008 Kim
20080092320 April 24, 2008 Cempura et al.
20080098554 May 1, 2008 Cho
20080115308 May 22, 2008 Lee
20080148509 June 26, 2008 Bacarella et al.
20080196192 August 21, 2008 Yao
20080222830 September 18, 2008 Chiang
20080222831 September 18, 2008 Thienard
20080222832 September 18, 2008 Huang
20080263805 October 30, 2008 Sebring
20080289133 November 27, 2008 Kim
20090007364 January 8, 2009 Jarasson et al.
20090013492 January 15, 2009 Henin
20090056049 March 5, 2009 Jarasson et al.
20090064440 March 12, 2009 Boland
20090126140 May 21, 2009 Heinrich et al.
20090151110 June 18, 2009 Ku
20090158545 June 25, 2009 Grasso et al.
20090158547 June 25, 2009 Kim
20090172910 July 9, 2009 De Block et al.
20090178226 July 16, 2009 Lee et al.
20090199357 August 13, 2009 Thienard
20100000041 January 7, 2010 Boland
20100005608 January 14, 2010 Chien
20100005609 January 14, 2010 Kim
20100024149 February 4, 2010 Erdal
20100024151 February 4, 2010 Ku
20100050360 March 4, 2010 Chiang
20100050361 March 4, 2010 Chang et al.
20100064468 March 18, 2010 Kang
20100083454 April 8, 2010 Op't Roodt et al.
20100186185 July 29, 2010 Grasso et al.
20100205763 August 19, 2010 Ku
20100212101 August 26, 2010 Thienard et al.
20100236008 September 23, 2010 Yang et al.
20100236675 September 23, 2010 Schneider
20100242204 September 30, 2010 Chien
20100281645 November 11, 2010 Kim et al.
20110005020 January 13, 2011 Koppen
20110041280 February 24, 2011 Choi et al.
20110047742 March 3, 2011 Kim et al.
20110072607 March 31, 2011 Van Baelen et al.
20110107542 May 12, 2011 Op't Roodt
20110113582 May 19, 2011 Kruse et al.
20110113583 May 19, 2011 Shanmugham et al.
20110162161 July 7, 2011 Amado
20110192511 August 11, 2011 Marrone
20110219563 September 15, 2011 Guastella et al.
20110277264 November 17, 2011 Ehde
20110277266 November 17, 2011 Umeno
20120027206 February 2, 2012 Suzuki et al.
20120047673 March 1, 2012 Depondt
20120054976 March 8, 2012 Yang et al.
20120060316 March 15, 2012 Avasiloaie et al.
20120090123 April 19, 2012 Caillot et al.
20120102669 May 3, 2012 Lee et al.
20120144615 June 14, 2012 Song et al.
20120159733 June 28, 2012 Kwon
20120180245 July 19, 2012 Ku
20120180246 July 19, 2012 Ku
20120186035 July 26, 2012 Lee
20120266405 October 25, 2012 Tolentinto et al.
20120279008 November 8, 2012 Depondt
20120311808 December 13, 2012 Yang et al.
20120317740 December 20, 2012 Yang et al.
20130025084 January 31, 2013 Tolentino et al.
20130067674 March 21, 2013 Chiang
20130067675 March 21, 2013 Chien
20130067678 March 21, 2013 Ehde
20130104334 May 2, 2013 Depondt
20130117957 May 16, 2013 Ku
20130125333 May 23, 2013 Tolentino et al.
20130152323 June 20, 2013 Chien
20130152326 June 20, 2013 Oslizlo et al.
20130152330 June 20, 2013 Kim et al.
20130167316 July 4, 2013 Egner-Walter et al.
20130185889 July 25, 2013 Tolentino et al.
20130192015 August 1, 2013 Tolentino et al.
20130192016 August 1, 2013 Kim et al.
20130198992 August 8, 2013 Tolentino et al.
20130205532 August 15, 2013 Tolentino et al.
20130219649 August 29, 2013 Tolentinto et al.
20130227809 September 5, 2013 Tolentinto et al.
20130227810 September 5, 2013 Tolentinto et al.
20130247323 September 26, 2013 Geubel et al.
20130255026 October 3, 2013 Depondt
20130263400 October 10, 2013 Duesterhoeft et al.
20130291329 November 7, 2013 Izabel
20130298348 November 14, 2013 Caillot et al.
20130305475 November 21, 2013 Kim et al.
20130305478 November 21, 2013 Kim et al.
20130333145 December 19, 2013 Depondt
20130333146 December 19, 2013 Depondt
20140026348 January 30, 2014 Schaeuble
20140026349 January 30, 2014 Schaeuble
20140026350 January 30, 2014 Boland
20140068886 March 13, 2014 Ku
20140082875 March 27, 2014 Peers et al.
20140115811 May 1, 2014 Kim et al.
20140130287 May 15, 2014 Bex et al.
20140150198 June 5, 2014 Kim et al.
20140182075 July 3, 2014 Polocoser et al.
20140196241 July 17, 2014 Kim et al.
20140259504 September 18, 2014 Piotrowski et al.
20140259505 September 18, 2014 Fournier et al.
20140317875 October 30, 2014 Tolentino et al.
20140338144 November 20, 2014 An et al.
20140359963 December 11, 2014 An et al.
20140373301 December 25, 2014 Kim et al.
20150026908 January 29, 2015 Izabel et al.
20150047141 February 19, 2015 Houssat et al.
20150059116 March 5, 2015 An et al.
20150074935 March 19, 2015 An et al.
20150089764 April 2, 2015 Wu
20150135468 May 21, 2015 Kim
20150158463 June 11, 2015 Yi
20150166016 June 18, 2015 Wang
20150246659 September 3, 2015 Park
20150251636 September 10, 2015 Kim et al.
20150251637 September 10, 2015 Tolentino et al.
20150258965 September 17, 2015 An
20150274130 October 1, 2015 Tolentinto et al.
20150274131 October 1, 2015 Tolentinto et al.
20150353054 December 10, 2015 Tolentino et al.
20160046263 February 18, 2016 Tolentino et al.
20160059828 March 3, 2016 Tolentino et al.
20160159323 June 9, 2016 Tolentinto et al.
20160280186 September 29, 2016 Peers et al.
20160375867 December 29, 2016 Tolentino et al.
20170057464 March 2, 2017 Tolentinto et al.
20170072912 March 16, 2017 Tolentino et al.
20170113656 April 27, 2017 Tolentino
Foreign Patent Documents
206463 July 1976 AR
409933 February 1971 AU
410701 February 1971 AU
649730 June 1994 AU
729371 July 2001 AU
741730 December 2001 AU
762557 June 2003 AU
770944 March 2004 AU
2003257828 March 2004 AU
780818 April 2005 AU
2006100618 August 2006 AU
2006241297 June 2007 AU
2006203445 October 2007 AU
2008100641 August 2008 AU
2009238193 October 2009 AU
2009324257 August 2010 AU
2010294766 February 2012 AU
8304484 April 1984 BR
8604381 May 1987 BR
8707390 November 1988 BR
8903473 March 1990 BR
8907154 February 1991 BR
9005080 August 1991 BR
9105809 August 1992 BR
9200129 October 1992 BR
0006164 April 2001 BR
0007263 October 2001 BR
0106665 April 2002 BR
0106667 April 2002 BR
0306135 October 2004 BR
PI0411532 August 2006 BR
PI0506158 October 2006 BR
PI0007263 January 2009 BR
PI0519259 January 2009 BR
0006917 August 2009 BR
PI0606903 August 2009 BR
PI0901324 April 2010 BR
PI0006963 September 2010 BR
PI0706762 April 2011 BR
PI1000961 June 2011 BR
PI0621265 December 2011 BR
954258 September 1974 CA
966609 April 1975 CA
1038117 September 1978 CA
1075414 April 1980 CA
1124462 June 1982 CA
1184712 April 1985 CA
1257059 July 1989 CA
1263803 December 1989 CA
2027227 April 1991 CA
1289308 September 1991 CA
2037400 February 1992 CA
2093956 April 1992 CA
2079846 July 1993 CA
2118874 September 1994 CA
2156345 February 1996 CA
2174030 May 1997 CA
2260175 January 1998 CA
2220462 July 1998 CA
2243143 January 1999 CA
2344888 April 2000 CA
2414099 January 2002 CA
2472914 August 2003 CA
2487799 December 2003 CA
2515071 August 2004 CA
2242776 July 2005 CA
2553977 September 2005 CA
2554048 September 2005 CA
2514372 January 2006 CA
2574330 February 2006 CA
2523315 April 2006 CA
2541641 April 2006 CA
2522729 June 2006 CA
2598104 September 2006 CA
2550409 November 2006 CA
2568561 May 2007 CA
2569175 May 2007 CA
2569176 May 2007 CA
2569977 June 2007 CA
2560155 September 2007 CA
2645821 October 2007 CA
2649474 November 2007 CA
2649760 November 2007 CA
2651069 November 2007 CA
2590443 April 2008 CA
2631513 May 2008 CA
2574242 July 2008 CA
2617013 November 2008 CA
2628517 April 2009 CA
2671767 January 2010 CA
2500891 May 2011 CA
2789431 August 2011 CA
2809243 March 2012 CA
2809292 March 2012 CA
2809947 March 2012 CA
2831801 October 2012 CA
2835703 November 2012 CA
2835703 November 2012 CA
2843527 January 2013 CA
2843527 January 2013 CA
2843637 February 2013 CA
2843637 February 2013 CA
2843644 February 2013 CA
2843644 February 2013 CA
2797693 May 2013 CA
147027 June 2013 CA
147028 June 2013 CA
2799267 June 2013 CA
2740384 July 2013 CA
2740384 July 2013 CA
2865292 August 2013 CA
2906863 September 2014 CA
2898928 January 2017 CA
2865295 March 2017 CA
2014002239 May 2015 CL
2014002241 May 2015 CL
2015002693 April 2016 CL
101983148 March 2011 CN
202593459 December 2012 CN
102963337 March 2013 CN
102991462 March 2013 CN
102991466 March 2013 CN
103101514 May 2013 CN
103101516 May 2013 CN
103108782 May 2013 CN
103183008 July 2013 CN
103183009 July 2013 CN
103183009 July 2013 CN
103223923 July 2013 CN
103223923 July 2013 CN
103228498 July 2013 CN
103228498 July 2013 CN
7141449 December 2014 CO
7141460 December 2014 CO
2309063 August 1974 DE
2311293 September 1974 DE
2353368 May 1975 DE
3222864 December 1983 DE
3919050 December 1990 DE
4439275 May 1995 DE
19650929 June 1998 DE
19734843 February 1999 DE
19745460 April 1999 DE
19814609 October 1999 DE
10054287 May 2002 DE
10228494 January 2004 DE
10320930 November 2004 DE
10343571 April 2005 DE
102004019157 November 2005 DE
102004061088 June 2006 DE
102005019389 November 2006 DE
102005062462 June 2007 DE
102006057024 June 2008 DE
102007030169 January 2009 DE
102007051549 April 2009 DE
102008042516 May 2009 DE
102008001045 October 2009 DE
102008021457 November 2009 DE
102008002447 December 2009 DE
102008049269 April 2010 DE
102008049270 April 2010 DE
102009000483 April 2010 DE
102009001025 August 2010 DE
102010012983 February 2011 DE
102009029469 March 2011 DE
102009029470 March 2011 DE
102009048212 April 2011 DE
102010016348 April 2011 DE
102010041152 May 2011 DE
102010003269 September 2011 DE
202011005213 September 2011 DE
202011100429 September 2011 DE
102010003645 October 2011 DE
102010028102 October 2011 DE
102010029107 November 2011 DE
102010030880 January 2012 DE
102010039526 February 2012 DE
0594451 April 1994 EP
0633170 January 1995 EP
0665143 August 1995 EP
0683703 November 1995 EP
0695246 February 1996 EP
0749378 December 1996 EP
0757636 February 1997 EP
0760761 March 1997 EP
0777594 June 1997 EP
0792704 September 1997 EP
0810936 December 1997 EP
0828638 March 1998 EP
0841229 May 1998 EP
0847346 June 1998 EP
0847347 June 1998 EP
0853561 July 1998 EP
0853563 July 1998 EP
0853565 July 1998 EP
0885791 December 1998 EP
0914269 May 1999 EP
0926028 June 1999 EP
0930991 July 1999 EP
0935546 August 1999 EP
0943511 September 1999 EP
1022202 July 2000 EP
1037778 September 2000 EP
0783998 October 2000 EP
1056628 December 2000 EP
1098795 May 2001 EP
1098796 May 2001 EP
1109706 June 2001 EP
1119475 August 2001 EP
1119476 August 2001 EP
1178907 February 2002 EP
1197406 April 2002 EP
1243489 September 2002 EP
1247707 October 2002 EP
1257445 November 2002 EP
1289804 March 2003 EP
1289806 March 2003 EP
1294596 March 2003 EP
1337420 August 2003 EP
1412235 April 2004 EP
1017514 June 2004 EP
1425204 June 2004 EP
1436179 July 2004 EP
1448414 August 2004 EP
1462327 September 2004 EP
1485279 December 2004 EP
1494901 January 2005 EP
1494902 January 2005 EP
1501710 February 2005 EP
1519862 April 2005 EP
1547883 June 2005 EP
1612113 January 2006 EP
1312522 April 2006 EP
1666319 June 2006 EP
1708911 October 2006 EP
1719673 November 2006 EP
1733939 December 2006 EP
1740424 January 2007 EP
1744940 January 2007 EP
1753646 February 2007 EP
1758772 March 2007 EP
1769987 April 2007 EP
1792794 June 2007 EP
1799518 June 2007 EP
1800977 June 2007 EP
1800978 June 2007 EP
1833708 September 2007 EP
1846274 October 2007 EP
1849666 October 2007 EP
1937524 July 2008 EP
2015971 January 2009 EP
2050638 April 2009 EP
2079617 July 2009 EP
2109557 October 2009 EP
2113432 November 2009 EP
2127969 December 2009 EP
2134576 December 2009 EP
2138363 December 2009 EP
2143603 January 2010 EP
2146877 January 2010 EP
2177406 April 2010 EP
2230140 September 2010 EP
2236364 October 2010 EP
2236366 October 2010 EP
2253520 November 2010 EP
2258592 December 2010 EP
1559623 January 2011 EP
2300283 March 2011 EP
2321160 May 2011 EP
2338747 June 2011 EP
2426017 March 2012 EP
002088146-0001 August 2012 EP
002088146-0002 August 2012 EP
2532558 December 2012 EP
2551157 January 2013 EP
2560847 February 2013 EP
2571733 March 2013 EP
2578458 April 2013 EP
2421729 March 2014 EP
2817183 December 2014 EP
2817184 December 2014 EP
002674887-0001 February 2015 EP
2969671 January 2016 EP
2437959 April 1980 FR
2736025 January 1997 FR
2738201 March 1997 FR
2747976 October 1997 FR
2804392 August 2001 FR
2879987 June 2006 FR
2957877 September 2011 FR
1395918 May 1975 GB
1405579 September 1975 GB
2188672 October 1987 GB
2220844 January 1990 GB
2324237 October 1998 GB
2348118 September 2000 GB
1110560 May 2010 HK
1105928 August 2010 HK
1108573 October 2011 HK
1110561 July 2012 HK
60092136 May 1985 JP
0374242 March 1991 JP
3572527 October 2004 JP
2008037388 February 2008 JP
10-089115 February 2009 KR
10-0891195 April 2009 KR
20120029616 March 2012 KR
169141 June 1993 MX
9708272 August 1998 MX
9708273 August 1998 MX
PA03010189 March 2004 MX
PA03010190 March 2004 MX
PA05002760 June 2005 MX
PA05002988 June 2005 MX
PA05008266 September 2005 MX
PA05005581 November 2005 MX
PA06008594 August 2006 MX
2007007828 July 2007 MX
2007007829 July 2007 MX
2008012325 October 2008 MX
2008013480 October 2008 MX
2008013814 December 2008 MX
2008014163 February 2009 MX
2009013050 January 2010 MX
2009013051 January 2010 MX
2010009333 October 2010 MX
2011000597 March 2011 MX
2011000598 March 2011 MX
2011003242 April 2011 MX
2011003243 April 2011 MX
2011003911 September 2011 MX
2012002314 June 2012 MX
2013002710 May 2013 MX
2013006881 July 2013 MX
2013006881 July 2013 MX
2014001106 March 2014 MX
2013011449 June 2014 MX
2013006260 July 2014 MX
2014001162 July 2014 MX
2014001161 November 2014 MX
2014010123 November 2014 MX
2014010122 May 2015 MX
2015013210 December 2015 MX
122308 April 2006 MY
122563 April 2006 MY
128028 January 2007 MY
128970 March 2007 MY
1800978 May 2011 PT
1800977 January 2012 PT
2238198 October 2004 RU
2251500 May 2005 RU
2260527 September 2005 RU
2260528 September 2005 RU
2268176 January 2006 RU
2271287 March 2006 RU
2293034 February 2007 RU
2294291 February 2007 RU
2007127898 January 2009 RU
80415 February 2009 RU
2346834 February 2009 RU
2369500 October 2009 RU
2381120 February 2010 RU
2394706 July 2010 RU
2416536 April 2011 RU
105237 June 2011 RU
108350 September 2011 RU
108741 September 2011 RU
2456180 July 2012 RU
2493033 September 2013 RU
2526773 August 2014 RU
2543448 February 2015 RU
2560217 August 2015 RU
2560954 August 2015 RU
2561173 August 2015 RU
2577830 March 2016 RU
2577981 March 2016 RU
2578001 March 2016 RU
2015144362 April 2017 RU
M404153 May 2011 TW
201325952 July 2013 TW
201325953 July 2013 TW
WO 81/03308 November 1981 WO
WO 91/06451 May 1991 WO
WO 92/06869 April 1992 WO
WO 97/12787 April 1997 WO
WO 98/01328 January 1998 WO
WO 98/01329 January 1998 WO
WO 98/50261 November 1998 WO
WO 98/51203 November 1998 WO
WO 98/51550 November 1998 WO
WO 99/08818 February 1999 WO
WO 99/15382 April 1999 WO
WO 99/56992 November 1999 WO
WO 00/05111 February 2000 WO
WO 00/06431 February 2000 WO
WO 00/21808 April 2000 WO
WO 00/21809 April 2000 WO
WO 00/21811 April 2000 WO
WO 00/38963 July 2000 WO
WO 00/38964 July 2000 WO
WO 00/53470 September 2000 WO
WO 0061409 October 2000 WO
WO 01/26942 April 2001 WO
WO 01/30618 May 2001 WO
WO 01/40034 June 2001 WO
WO 01/49537 July 2001 WO
WO 01/58732 August 2001 WO
WO 01/62559 August 2001 WO
WO 01/89890 November 2001 WO
WO 01/89891 November 2001 WO
WO 01/89892 November 2001 WO
WO 01/94166 December 2001 WO
WO 02/04168 January 2002 WO
WO 02/04266 January 2002 WO
WO 02/04267 January 2002 WO
WO 02/04268 January 2002 WO
WO 02/34590 May 2002 WO
WO 02/34596 May 2002 WO
WO 02/34597 May 2002 WO
WO 02/40328 May 2002 WO
WO 02/40329 May 2002 WO
WO 02/051677 July 2002 WO
WO 02/052917 July 2002 WO
WO 02/066301 August 2002 WO
WO 02/090155 November 2002 WO
WO 02/090156 November 2002 WO
WO 03/026938 April 2003 WO
WO 03/033316 April 2003 WO
WO 03/042017 May 2003 WO
WO 03/045746 June 2003 WO
WO 03/091078 November 2003 WO
WO 03/101794 December 2003 WO
WO 03/106233 December 2003 WO
WO 2004/002792 January 2004 WO
WO 2004/045927 June 2004 WO
WO 2004/045928 June 2004 WO
WO 2004/048163 June 2004 WO
WO 2004/056625 July 2004 WO
WO 2004/069617 August 2004 WO
WO 2004/076251 September 2004 WO
WO 2004/098962 November 2004 WO
WO 2004/098963 November 2004 WO
WO 2004/110833 December 2004 WO
WO 2005/025956 March 2005 WO
WO 2005/039944 May 2005 WO
WO 2008/051483 May 2005 WO
WO 2005/054017 June 2005 WO
WO 2005/080160 September 2005 WO
WO 2005/082691 September 2005 WO
WO 2005/087560 September 2005 WO
WO 2005/092680 October 2005 WO
WO 2005/102801 November 2005 WO
WO 2005/115813 December 2005 WO
WO 2005/123471 December 2005 WO
WO 2006/000393 January 2006 WO
WO 2006/013152 February 2006 WO
WO 2006/040259 April 2006 WO
WO 2006/048355 May 2006 WO
WO 2006/061284 June 2006 WO
WO 2006/069648 July 2006 WO
WO 2006/074995 July 2006 WO
WO 2006/079591 August 2006 WO
WO 2006/081893 August 2006 WO
WO 2006/106006 October 2006 WO
WO 2006/106109 October 2006 WO
2006119679 November 2006 WO
WO 2006/114355 November 2006 WO
WO 2006/117081 November 2006 WO
WO 2006/117085 November 2006 WO
WO 2006/117308 November 2006 WO
WO 2007/009885 January 2007 WO
WO 2007/014389 February 2007 WO
WO 2007/014395 February 2007 WO
WO 2007/035288 March 2007 WO
WO 2007/042377 April 2007 WO
WO 2007/045549 April 2007 WO
WO 2007/071487 June 2007 WO
WO 2007/073974 July 2007 WO
WO 2007/102404 September 2007 WO
WO 2007/122095 November 2007 WO
WO 2007/128677 November 2007 WO
WO 2008/003633 January 2008 WO
WO 2008/043622 April 2008 WO
WO 2008/076402 June 2008 WO
WO 2008/122453 October 2008 WO
WO 2008/124113 October 2008 WO
WO 2008/135308 November 2008 WO
WO 2009/000498 December 2008 WO
WO 2009/115494 September 2009 WO
WO 2009/121849 October 2009 WO
WO 2009/124792 October 2009 WO
WO 2009/132982 November 2009 WO
WO 2009/153097 December 2009 WO
WO 2009/155230 December 2009 WO
WO 2010/016000 February 2010 WO
WO 2010/028866 March 2010 WO
WO 2010/028918 March 2010 WO
WO 2010033646 March 2010 WO
WO 2010/034445 April 2010 WO
WO 2010/034447 April 2010 WO
WO 2010/035794 April 2010 WO
WO 2010/091757 August 2010 WO
WO 2010/098877 September 2010 WO
WO 2010/112579 October 2010 WO
WO 2010/121665 October 2010 WO
2010127888 November 2010 WO
WO 2011/032753 March 2011 WO
WO 2011/032760 March 2011 WO
WO 2011/040743 April 2011 WO
WO 2011/060979 May 2011 WO
WO 2011/116995 September 2011 WO
WO 2011/120723 October 2011 WO
WO 2011/124404 October 2011 WO
WO 2011/131395 October 2011 WO
WO 2011/144400 November 2011 WO
WO 2011/157465 December 2011 WO
WO 2012/001175 January 2012 WO
WO 2012/014054 February 2012 WO
WO 2012/033363 March 2012 WO
2013/016493 January 2013 WO
2013/019645 February 2013 WO
2013/019723 February 2013 WO
2013089312 June 2013 WO
2013/126907 August 2013 WO
2013/126910 August 2013 WO
2013176352 November 2013 WO
2014/145538 September 2014 WO
2016/160687 October 2016 WO
2017/075066 May 2017 WO
200006220 July 2001 ZA
Other references
  • International Search Report dated Oct. 19, 2012 for PCT/US2012/048843 filed Jul. 30, 2012.
  • International Search Report dated Sep. 19, 2012 for PCT/US2012/048617 filed Jul. 27, 2012.
  • International Search Report dated Sep. 19, 2012 for PCT/US2012/048262 filed Jul. 26, 2012.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/453,601 dated Jul. 9, 2013.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/453,601 dated Jan. 10, 2014.
  • Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/453,601 dated Aug. 1, 2014.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/453,601 datcd Feb. 4, 2015.
  • Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/453,601 dated Jun. 3, 2015.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/453,601 dated Jan. 8, 2016.
  • Notice of Allowance towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/453,601 dated May 20, 2016.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/558,624 dated May 16, 2014.
  • Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/558,624 dated Sep. 29, 2014.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/558,624 dated Mar. 6, 2015.
  • Notice of Allowance towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/558,624 dated Jun. 29, 2015.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/560,585 dated Jul. 29, 2014.
  • Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/560,585 dated Jan. 28, 2015.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/560,585 dated Jun. 24, 2015.
  • Notice of Allowance towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/560,585 dated Mar. 22, 2016.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/679,646 dated Feb. 2, 2015.
  • Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/679,646 dated Sep. 2, 2015.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/679,646 dated Jun. 13, 2016.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/679,646 dated Jan. 4, 2017.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/572,100 dated Jun. 3, 2014.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/587,389 dated Oct. 31, 2014.
  • Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/587,389 dated Feb. 25, 2015.
  • Notice of Allowance towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/587,389 dated Jun. 19, 2015.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 14/928,467 dated Apr. 28, 2016.
  • Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 14/928,467 dated Sep. 14, 2016.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/194,070 dated Apr. 8, 2013.
  • Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/194,070 dated Aug. 27, 2013.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/194,070 dated Dec. 26, 2013.
  • Notice of Allowance towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/194,070 dated Apr. 18, 2014.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 14/329,423 dated Sep. 10, 2014.
  • Notice of Allowance towards U.S. Appl. No. 14/329,423 dated Apr. 15, 2015.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 29/413,428 dated Nov. 7, 2012.
  • Notice of Allowance towards U.S. Appl. No. 29/413,428 dated Jun. 14, 2013.
  • Notice of Allowance towards U.S. Appl. No. 29/413,430 dated Nov. 26, 2012.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 29/375,477 dated Sep. 7, 2012.
  • Notice of Allowance towards U.S. Appl. No. 29/375,477 dated Jan. 15, 2014.
  • Notice of Allowance towards U.S. Appl. No. 29/429,262 dated Jun. 27, 2013.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 14/035,610 dated Apr. 22, 2016.
  • Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 14/035,610 dated Aug. 5, 2016.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 14/035,610 dated Dec. 30, 2016.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/776,376 dated Nov. 18, 2014.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/840,256 dated Nov. 26, 2014.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 14/715,180 dated Jan. 7, 2016.
  • Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 14/715,180 dated Aug. 16, 2016.
  • Definition of rectangular in Oxford Dictionary 2017.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 14/715,180 dated May 22, 2017.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 14/721,476 dated May 16, 2017.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in PCT Application No. PCT/US2013/027684 dated Apr. 29, 2013.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in PCT Application No. PCT/US2014/030329 dated Jun. 3, 2014.
  • First Office Action issued in connection with CA Application No. 2865292 dated Aug. 25, 2015.
  • Second Office Action issued in connection with CA Application No. 2865292 dated Aug. 15, 2016.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/776,383 dated Mar. 10, 2015.
  • Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 13/776,383 dated Aug. 14, 2015.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in PCT Application No. PCT/US2013/027688 dated Apr. 25, 2013.
  • First Office Action issued in connection with CA Application No. 2865295 dated Aug. 25, 2015.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 14/200,792 dated Oct. 23, 2015.
  • Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 14/200,792 dated Feb. 23, 2016.
  • Notice of Allowance issued towards U.S. Appl. No. 14/200,792 dated Jul. 22, 2016.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 15/359,271 dated May 11, 2017.
  • Notice of Allowance issued towards U.S. Appl. No. 29/504,287 dated Sep. 12, 2016.
  • Non-Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 29/504,292 dated Jun. 19, 2015.
  • Final Rejection towards U.S. Appl. No. 29/504,292 dated Jan. 20, 2016.
  • Advisory Action towards U.S. Appl. No. 29/504,292 dated May 19, 2016.
  • Notice of Allowance issued towards U.S. Appl. No. 29/504,292 dated Aug. 16, 2016.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in PCT Application No. PCT/US2016/024490 dated Jun. 21, 2016.
  • Notice of Allowance issued towards U.S. Appl. No. 29/525,746 dated Apr. 7, 2016.
  • Notice of Allowance issued towards U.S. Appl. No. 29/571,419 dated Jan. 31, 2017.
  • Notice of Allowance issued towards U.S. Appl. No. 29/571,424 dated Feb. 1, 2017.
  • International Search Report and Written Opinion issued in PCT Application No. PCT/US2016/058887 dated Jan. 3, 2017.
Patent History
Patent number: 10166951
Type: Grant
Filed: Mar 17, 2014
Date of Patent: Jan 1, 2019
Patent Publication Number: 20140283325
Inventors: Hiroshi Kawashima (Sunrise, FL), Robert Peter Peers (Boca Raton, FL)
Primary Examiner: Michael Jennings
Application Number: 14/216,082
Classifications
Current U.S. Class: Arm-to-cleaning Element Connection (15/250.32)
International Classification: B60S 1/38 (20060101); B60S 1/40 (20060101);